IPC, UKaid, Actionaid task community leaders on strategic advocacy

 

Community leaders from Otumara, Isale Iwaya and Erejuwa Makoko communities of Lagos Mainland Local Government Area of Lagos State have been tasked on engaging in advocacy that could better the lot of their communities.

Organised by the International Press Centre, UKaid and Actionaid, leaders from the various communities were engaged at the recent community based advocacy training for community members on engaging with duty bearers on community development issues.

Speaking at the event, Gender Rights Advocate, Grace Ketefe told participants what advocacy is all about. “Advocacy means there is a general issue that you want to change. For instance in the community, advocacy for better roads and the likes,” she explained.

She also said advocacy represents strategies devised at achieving a noble cause and can also mean an active promotion of a cause. Meanwhile, Ketefe in telling the community leaders what advocacy means, also told them what advocacy is not.

According to her, “Advocacy involves identifying a problem and even proposing solution. Advocacy is not about fighting and making troubles to push your view.”

Stating further, “Advocacy is a tool for real participation by citizens in decision making by government and other powerful bodies like elections, open forums, special communication, and impact on public policies.

Continuing in her presentation, Ketefe stated that “Citizen participation requires internal democracy, human and economic resources, consciousness, willingness to struggle, credibility, ability to bring people and different groups together.”

She added that advocacy also entails “Ability to mobilise large numbers of people, good leaders, relationships with local, state, national and international actors and allying with popular votes.”

A participant at the workshop is more concerned about unity in the community which could bring development. The resident of Otumara community is particularly advocating the cooperation of the two traditional leaders within the community.

“There are two Baales (traditional leaders) within the community. We want them to cooperate with themselves like other Baales in other communities around do cooperate. Let them also cooperate with us so that we can move the community forward and we can get the government to answer our development demands,” she said.

The resident stated further that, “If there is no cooperation, there can be no development. Our major challenge is road at Otumara community. This road we are talking about is the one linking Fatiregun, Abule nla junction, Costain and Oyingbo. We want the government to fix this road so that life can be easier for we residents.”

In his own presentation, a trainer at the event, Mr. Francis Abayomi applauded the IPC and other stakeholders who have put the training together. According to him, such training and community advocacy is such that has helped governance in Lagos State where dividend of democracy is delivered to the people.

According to Abayomi, “This kind of engagement should be sponsored to go round the country so that for once, other Nigerians can know what to expect from their various governments and the powers that be can only be made accountable when the people know their rights.”

In his lecture, he enjoined participants to equip themselves with information with which they could use to engage the political leaders they have painstakingly empowered into offices.

Lecturing along various sub-topics including accountability, consensus agreement, transparency, personal empowerment, organisational development, Abayomi enjoined participants to lay hold on a copy of their local government budget with which they may use in asking relevant questions on development.

“Have you got a copy of your Local Government budget this year? He asked, enjoining community members to “Go and get it and know what affects your community and neighbouring community.”

He also stated that “Advocacy cannot be done if your communication is not strategic. Your message must be simple, it must be short, straight to the point, timely and consistent.”

 

Story by Dayo Emmanuel